April 27, 2011 (Innsbruck, Austria) – As Innsbruck prepares to host the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games, Michael Stoneman visits the Austrian city for the Olympic Review to find out how the preparations are progressing.

With less than a year to go until the first Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the Austrian city of Innsbruck is already buzzing with anticipation as it prepares to open its doors to the world’s finest young winter athletes. Walking around the cobbled streets of Innsbruck’s old town, it’s impossible to escape the picturesque Alpine city’s link to winter sports, with snow-capped peaks rising in all directions and the futuristic Bergisel ski jump towering over the entire city.

An Opening Ceremony in the Bergisel Stadium
On 13 January 2012, the Bergisel Stadium will play host to the Opening Ceremony of the inaugural Winter YOG, signalling the start of a world-class sporting spectacle that will draw to a close 10 days later. “Just five months ago we celebrated the birth of the Youth Olympic Games with Singapore 2010,” said President Rogge as the one-year-to-go countdown began in January. “Innsbruck 2012 will continue this momentum over 10 action-packed days of competition. These Games, in addition to making their mark on Olympic history, will be a memorable and inspirational event for all the athletes and countless numbers of young people around the world.”

Over 1000 young athletes
Innsbruck 2012 will bring together over 1,000 young athletes, aged from 15 to 18, who will compete in the seven sports on the Olympic Winter Games programme, including a number of events that have been created especially for the Winter YOG. Running alongside the sports competition programme, these athletes will also participate in a unique Culture and Education Programme (CEP) during the Games, which will employ a variety of fun and interactive initiatives to raise their awareness of the Olympic values as well as different cultures and topics such as sustainability, the arts and digital media.

A unique atmosphere
As in Singapore, IOC President Rogge expects the young participants from around the world to revel in the unique atmosphere of the YOG and take away memories that will last forever: “Only some of the athletes won medals, but all of them won new friends. Many of the athletes met and were inspired by Olympic champions, but each of them learned what it takes to be a champion, both on and off the field of play. All of them are richer for having come into contact with peers from so many different cultures and backgrounds.”

Less than a year to go
With less than a year to go until the Games begin, all eyes are on Innsbruck to see how the preparations are progressing. The IOC Coordination Committee for the 1st Winter Youth Olympic Games, chaired by Gian-Franco Kasper, conducted its third visit to the city at the end of last year to see how the Organising Committee (IYOGOC) was making the transition from strategic planning to the operational phase of its plan. Having looked closely at IYOGOC’s plans, Kasper is confident that Innsbruck will deliver an unforgettable Games – not least for the athletes that will be taking part. “As the first winter edition, it will certainly be memorable,” he says. “However, the success will be measured by the positive experiences of the athletes themselves – who we hope will take back home their stories of the Games and share them with their friends, family and communities, encouraging and inspiring other young hopefuls.”

The countdown is on
Innsbruck previously hosted the Olympic Winter Games in 1964 and 1976, and, with the countdown to the inaugural Winter YOG gathering pace, the Games have already brought a carnival atmosphere back to the city. In February, on the 35th anniversary of the last Winter Games to be held in Innsbruck, the city hosted a three-day Youth Olympic Games Festival, which saw thousands of young people enjoying a series of outdoor concerts and snow sports events, helping to build the growing level of excitement among the city’s residents as they look forward to next year’s Games.

“It’s a huge honour to be hosting the first ever Winter Youth Olympic Games, especially in Innsbruck where people know what it means to be an Olympic Host City,” explains Peter Bayer, CEO of Innsbruck 2012. “What I’m really looking forward to is when the Youth Olympic Flame finally arrives, because that’s when it all really starts. I’m also looking forward to seeing the youth of the world come together to celebr-ate their sports and their cultures. There is something magical about the Games and the atmosphere that will be created here will make Innsbruck an unforgettable place.” With the clock ticking and anticipation building, the countdown to Innsbruck 2012 is well and truly on.

March 24, 2011 (Ottawa, ON) – The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced today that Beckie Scott has been appointed as Canada’s Chef de Mission for the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games (WYOG) in Innsbruck, Austria.

“I am absolutely thrilled and incredibly honoured to have been asked to be the Chef de Mission of the Canadian team competing in Innsbruck 2012,” Scott said. “The first winter edition of the Youth Olympic Games will be sensational and I can’t imagine a greater experience for young competitive athletes. I really look forward to guiding, assisting and sharing this memorable event with our team.”

Scott is a three-time Olympian, a double medallist and one of Canada’s best cross-country skiers ever. She made history at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games by winning a gold medal in pursuit. In so doing, she became the first North American woman to win an Olympic medal (of any kind) in cross-country skiing. Four years later, Scott took to the podium again, teaming with Sara Renner to win the silver medal in team sprint.

“Beckie is the ideal candidate for these inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games,” said Caroline Assalian, the COC’s Executive Managing Director, Sport and NSF Relations. “She has intimate knowledge of these Games from her work on the IOC Coordination Commission for Innsbruck 2012. More importantly, the WYOG are about inspiring youth and living the Olympic Values. Beckie has demonstrated her commitment to those values. She believes in the Youth Olympic movement which is why she has decided to make the Canadian Youth Olympic Team a priority.”

During the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, Scott was elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission for an eight-year term. She is also a member of the IOC’s Coordination for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games – as well as the Coordination of the 1st Winter Youth Olympic Games.

As a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Athlete Committee, Scott is a passionate and influential lobbyist in this area. Among her many initiatives was an athletes’ petition that requested an independent drug-testing body for all World Cup and Olympic competitions.

She was also a part of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games as a board member for the organizing committee, VANOC. In 2006, Scott became a member of the COC’s Executive Committee as well as the Athletes’ Council, consequent to her election as an IOC member. She also serves on the board of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.

As Chef de Mission, Scott will take on the role of official representative and spokesperson of the Canadian Youth Olympic Team, and be a key member of the overall leadership team for Canada’s participation in the Winter Youth Olympic Games. Her leadership and Olympic experience are invaluable assets to the delegation. Scott’s knowledge of sport and the Olympic Movement will be of utmost importance in the interaction with stakeholders, both nationally and internationally.

The inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games will take place from January 13 – 22, 2012 in Innsbruck, Austria, site of the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Winter Games.